Exodus Chapter 18
It is interesting to learn that the things God did in Egypt and that He did for Moses and the Israelites had already become known in other countries. The word about the greatness of God was spreading. The father-in-law of Moses, Jethro, had known that things were happening in Egypt because Moses had sent his wife back home to her father to be safe. We don’t know at what point he did this. It may have been when the plagues started. I can imagine that Moses was concerned about what the Pharaoh might do to him or his family once the plagues started. Word had gotten to Jethro in the country of Midian how God had rescued the Israelites making a way for them to cross the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptians. Now that the danger was over, Jethro travelled to where Moses was, bringing with him his daughter, the wife of Moses and their two sons.
Let's Reflect
1. Where did Jethro and Zipporah find Moses? Where was he encamped?
2. Do you find it surprising that there is no mention of Moses embracing his wife and sons when he is reunited with them? We can be sure that he did since he sent them away for their safety. He had a great relationship with his father-in-law. How was this demonstrated?
3. Moses told Jethro about everything that had happened. He told him about all the hardships they had endured and more importantly he told them about what? See verse 8.
4. What conclusion did Jethro come to about God based on everything that Moses had told him?
5. Jethro was a priest in Midian, and he offered sacrifices to God. Who came to eat with Jethro and Moses from the meat of the sacrifices and the bread?
6. The following day Jethro observed all that Moses was doing for the people. The Bible says that Moses sat to judge the people. He settled all their disputes for them. Why did Jethro say that this was not good for Moses to be doing?
7. Moses took the advice of his father-in-law and set up an organized system to help carry the burden. Moses would still be brought the more difficult cases of dispute. This helped Moses greatly to be able to spend more time in prayer and in leadership. This level of organization also helped the people. What does verse 26 tell us about how this helped the people?
